Southlake, TX – South Lake Oncology center helps women to understand the importance of having a second opinion when the concern is about breast cancer.

Diagnosing breast cancer is not always an exact science, a new study reported on in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals. While some cases are simple to pinpoint, pathologists don’t always agree on the status of less obvious and non-cancerous cases, shedding light on the importance of seeking a second opinion when breast cancer is a concern.

“The research shows that pathologists and outside experts only agree about 75 percent of the time, raising potential questions in 25 percent of the less obvious cases,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon of Southlake Oncology. “While detection of invasive cancer tracked well in the study with pathologists and a panel of outside experts in the field agreeing almost all of the time on a diagnosis, discrepancies came into the picture in regard to noncancerous biopsies. The study revealed misdiagnosis about 13 percent of the time.”

Dr. Echt points out the findings indicate pathologists have a strong track record for diagnosing invasive cancers, but have more difficulty detecting conditions that are potentially less worrisome, such as atypia. An estimated 1.6 million women undergo breast biopsies in America annually, leading to a potential for misreading in some cases, Dr. Echt notes.

“The sheer number of biopsies performed on an annual basis simply gives rise to an anticipated margin of error in results,” Dr. Echt says. “The bottom line is that biopsies can sometimes be misinterpreted even by the most highly skilled pathologists. If breast cancer has been diagnosed or if it has been ruled out through a single biopsy, it is often best to seek out a repeat test to confirm the findings.”

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed yearly. Women who have or suspect they have breast cancer are entitled to second opinions before they proceed down a path toward treatment, Dr. Echt says.

“The potential implications of a positive diagnosis of breast cancer make seeking out a second opinion a smart choice even if for nothing more than gaining confirmation before the treatment process begins,” Dr. Echt says. “Diligent physicians understand this need in their patients and most encourage them to seek out a second opinion before moving forward.”

About the Center:-
A comprehensive cancer care center with locations in Southlake and Irving, Texas, Southlake Oncology offers specialties in colon and breast cancers. Southlake Oncology takes a unique approach to cancer care, wherein they provide everything from traditional, state-of-the-art medical oncology care along with alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and meditation to reduce symptoms of treatment - all in pursuit of their ultimate goal which is to treat the whole person, rather than just the disease itself. For more information and researching about their treatment options you can visit them at southlakeoncology.com